Volunteer, joAnne deHamel

JOANNE DEHAMEL President, Family Advisory CouncilUniversity Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's HospitalFROM THE NOMINATION:For joAnne deHamel, creating a bridge of understanding between families and hospital staff is a top priority. The president of the Family Advisory Council at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Ms. deHamel advises staff members on their treatment of patients' families and how to handle difficult situations arising from children being hospitalized.

Ms. deHamel — whose daughter was born with special needs — draws in part from her own experiences, and in her five-year tenure, the past two of which she's served as president, she has assisted in the revision of UH's patient satisfaction class and the development of advisory councils in the surgery department and the Ireland Cancer Center.

She also is a member of the hospital system's service excellence steering committee, which focuses on patient service through elements such as telephone courtesy and way-finding.

Debbie Monahan, a member of Rainbow's Family Advisory Council, is quoted as saying that Ms. deHamel inspired her to join the council.

“I have never met someone more committed to patient care,” she said.

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